Did a Ski Boot Company Just Perfect the Hiking Boot?

Everyone who’s ever worn ski boots knows that they’re not exactly comfortable, in fact, when they fit correctly they’re often painful. That’s because ski boots are built with rigid plastic to be as close to an extension of the body as possible — performance over comfort. That said, ski boot makers have done as much as they can to build it in. Shells, liners and footbeds are oven-cooked, molded and shaped with machine presses and clamps. After-market mods made by lifelong ski bums are widely accepted as business as usual.

But what if a ski boot company took everything it had learned in trying to make comfortable the most uncomfortable piece of footwear, and made something else? That’s exactly what Tecnica, one of the iconic names in the ski boot world, is attempting with its new Forge hiking boot. Every piece of the Forge is designed for customization, most notably so the upper, which is available in both synthetic ripstop and Nubuk leather. In addition to that, Tecnica equipped the Forge with all the indications of a solid hiking boot, including a Gore-Tex liner and Vibram rubber sole. Because custom requires an in-person fitting, the Forge is only available in select specialty retailers.